Ignition device for reducing the corona effect on high tension cables



Aug. 16, 1966 K. B. HARLOW 3,267,324

IGNITION DEVICE FOR REDUCING THE CORONA EFFECT ON HIGH TENSION CABLES Filed April 1, 1963 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

KENNETH B. HAR LOW FIG. ll ATTORNEYS Aug. 16, 1966 K. B. HARLOW 4 IGNITION DEVICE FOR REDUCING THE CORONA EFFECT ON HIGH TENSION CABLES Filed April 1, 1963 5 Sheets--$heet 2 FIG. 5 FIG. 8

INVENTOR. FIG. 6 KENNETH a. HARLOW ATTORNEYS g- 16, 1966 K. B. HARLOW 3,

IGNITION DEVICE FOR REDUCING THE CORONA EFFECT ON HIGH TENSION CABLES Filed April 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. l3

FIG. I4

INVENTOR.

KENNETH B. HARLOW BY 7%7LW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 267,324 IGNITION DEVICE FOR REDUCING THE CORONA EFFECT ON HIGH TENSION CABLES Kenneth B. Harlow, South Bend, Ind. (1360 Las Riendas, La Habra, Calif. 90631) Filed Apr. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 269,586 8 Claims. (Cl. 315-35) The present invention relates to an ignition device and more particularly to a device used in conjunction with the standard ignition system of internal combustion engines.

In the ignition system of standard internal combustion engines, during the charge buildup to high tension and at the spark dischange time, an excess charge or coronal effect is created which is normally dissipated in the conventional system by flow or loss to the ground through the engine. This charge normally is not utilized in any beneficial way to improve the spark or to assist in effective ignition and combustion of the fuel mixture charges in the successive firing of the engine cylinders. In the past, a number of different devices and mechanisms have been devised and used for utilizing this charge; however, those lprior devices have either been ineffective or inconsistent, or expensive and difficult to install on the standard engine after the vehicle has left the manufacturing plant, often requiring substantial changes in the ignition system parts, such as for example, in the distributor, and.

requiring appreciable time, effort and skill in making the installation. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide an ignition device for utilizing the excess charge or corona eifect in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine to improve the spark and combustion of gases in the cylinders, by directing the charge from one spark plug to another to obtain optimum advantage of this charge without interfering with the normal operation and performance of the ignition system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for utilizing the corona effect, which is adapted to be installed in the ignition system of any conventional internal combustion engine and which can be easily and quickly installed in the system without disassembling the parts thereof and without disconnecting the leads between the aforesaid parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforesaid type which can be secured to the spark plug wires by merely clamping the parts 'of the device to the wires, without disconnecting wires from the plug or distributor, and which is provided with a means indicating whether the electric spark charge is being delivered to the respective plug.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which can readily be connected into the ignition system of an engine without the use of any special tools or equipment, and which will immediately improve the engine performance, give better fuel economy, increase the -life of the spark plugs and prevent fouling and burning of the plugs.

Another object is to :provide a relatively simple, easily fabricated device of the type described for installation in an ignition system of an internal combustion engine, which can be clamped directly to the spark plug lead wires and establish a connection therewith, and which does not place any additional burden or requirement on other parts or systems of the engine in obtaining maximum performance in the ignition system.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the toll-owing description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a distributor cap 3,267,324 Patented August 16, 1966 and wires leading therefrom to the spark plugs of a conventional internal combustion engine with the present ignition device mounted thereon to illustrate the manner in which the device is used;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of one of the units of the present device;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the unit shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the unit shown in FIGURES 2-and 3, the section being taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE '5 is a plan view of one of the elements used in the units of FIGURES 2, 3 and '4;

FIGURE 6 is a plan View of the side of the element opposite that shown in FIGURE 5 FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the unit shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, illustrating the manner in which the unit is installed;

FIGURES 8 and 9 are side elevational views of the unit illustrating a fuither way of assemblying and installing the unit;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a modified form of the present ignition device;

FIGURE I I is a plan view of the opposite side of the modified :form of the ignition device shown in FIG- URE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIGURE 10; and

FIGURES 13 and 14 are plan views of opposite sides of an element embodied in the form of the present ignition device as illustrated in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, numeral 20 designates a cap of a conventional distributor, numerals 22, 24, 26 and 28 designate wires connect-ing the distributor to the spark plugs of a four cylinder engine, and numeral 30 designates the present ignition device consisting generally, in the installation illustrated, of units 32 and 34 connected by a Wire 36. Units 32 and 34 are identical in construction and operation; hence, only one will be described in detail herein, unit 32 being illustrated in FIGURES 2 another, leaving a space therebetween in the middle of the element.

The three copper plates are secured to the insulating plate by resin or any other suitable securing means. The two plates 50 and 52 are connected to ignition wires 22 and 24, respectively, when the unit is in-.

stalled in the ignition system by pins 69 and 62 extending through plate 42. Plate 54 is connected to interconnecting wire 36 by pin 66 extending through plate 44 and through a portion of connector block 68 and the end of wire 36, the block 68 having a bore 70 therein for receiving the end of wire 36 and being secured to the external surface of plate 44 by resin or other suitable securing and sealing means.

Wires 22 and 24 are held firmly on pins 60 and 62 by a plate 72 secured in place on the two wires by a screw 74 extending therethrough into and through plate 42, element 46 and plate 44, the screw preferably being of nylon or other suitable non condueting material. The three plates 42, 44 and 72 are of plastic such as Bakelite, or other stifi, non-conducting material.

A further advantage of the present invention is obtained by signalling gas filled glow lamps and 82 having terminals 84 and 86, respectively, extending through plate 42 and contacting plates 50 and 52, respectively. The two lamps 80 and 82 are seated in plate 72 and hence are protected from bumping or other accidental blows which might either break the lamps or dislodge them from their connection with plates 50 and 52. In the installation and operation of the foregoing induction ignition device, each unit is mounted on two spark plug wires with pins 60 and 62 extending through the wires to make good electrical contact therewith. The two units are connected by wires 36 with pin 66 in each unit connecting plate 54 with the wire. Thereafter, when the wire to any particular plug is charged, the respective lamp 80 or 82 glows, indicating proper spark discharge to the plug. The excess charge or radiation in wire 22, for example, is transmitted through element 46 to wire 24 and through wire 36 to wires 26 and 28. The radiation or charge thus is transmitted to the other spark plugs in the foregoing manner, increasing the effectiveness of the spark and thereby facilitating starting, improving idling and protecting the plugs from fouling and burning.

The modified form of the present invention, illustrated in FIGURES l0, l1 and 12, is :basically the same as the previously described embodiment, this form being designed for a three cylinder engine with three contacts 'being provided in each unit for three spark plug wires. The unit of this modified form consists of plates 142 and 144 of plastic material having interposed therebetween element 146 consisting of an insulating panel 147, a copper plate 148 on one side and three copper plates 150, 152 and 154 on the opposite side. The three latter plates are connected to the spark plug wires by pins 156, 158 and 160, respectively, and plate 148 consists of three discs 162, 164 and 166 connected by bars 155, and mounted on panel 147 opposite discs 150, 152 and 154. Plate 168 for holding the spark plug wires on the respective pins is secured to base 140 by screw 174. In this modification, glow lamps 180, 182 and 184 are secured to plate 168, and the contacts of the lamps extend through plate 168 to a thin metal element 185 between the inner side of plate 168 and discs 186, 188 and 190 adjacent the spark plug wires, and are thereby energized sufiiciently to cause them to light up when the spark charge passes through the respective wire. If desired, pins 156, 158 and 160 may extend through discs 186, 188 and 190 and make direct contact with the thin metal elements.

With reference to the first embodiment described herein, a unit similar to unit 32 may be used on a six or eight cylinder engine with each unit embracing two spark plug wires and the three or four units connected in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 by a wire 36'. The two ends of wire 36' are joined to similar units on other spark plug wires and the unit shown in FIGURE 8 is connected to the wire between the two ends by a pin 66' extending downwardly from plate 46 to block 68 and into wire 36'. FIGURE 9 illustrates a further arrangement of connecting the glow lamps into the system. In this form the lamp is joined to the end of interconnecting wire 36" and the contacts thereof are connected directly to the metal wire therein, with wire 36" seating in a block 68", and pin 66" extending into the wire near the end thereof.

While only two embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, various changes may be made to satisfy requirements.

I claim:

1. An ignition device for an internal combustion engine having a distributor, a plurality of spark plugs and wires connecting said distributor with said plugs, comprising a plurality of units each including a pair of plates of plastic material, an electrical element disposed between said plates and secured thereto, said element having a panel of high electrical resistant material, two members in spaced relation on one side of said panel and one metal member on the other side of said panel, means sealing said element between said plates, pins extending outwardly from said spaced metal members and through the adjacent plate for receiving said spark plug wires and making electrical contact therewith, a plate having a pair of opposed slots therein removably secured to said first plates for retaining said wires on said pins, two glow lamps secured to said adjacent plate and extending therefrom into the slots of said last mentioned plate and being connected to said spaced members, and a lead connected to said one metal member and extending to the corresponding member of a second unit.

2. An ignition device for an internal combustion en gine having a distributor, a plurality of spark plugs and wires connecting said distributor with said plugs, comprising a pair of plates of electrical nonconducting material, an electrical element disposed between said plates and secured thereto, said element having a panel of high electrical resistant material, two metal members in spaced relation on one side of said panel and one metal member on the other side of said panel, means sealing said element between said plates, pins extending outwardly from said spaced metal members and through the adjacent plate for receiving said spark plug wires and making electrical contact therewith, a plate having a pair of opposed slots therein removably secured to said first plates for retaining said wires on said pins, and two glow lamps secured to said adjacent plate and extending therefrom into the slots of said last mentioned plate and being connected to said spaced members.

3. An ignition device for an internal combustion engine having a distributor, a plurality of spark plugs and wires connecting said distributor with said plugs, comprising a pair of plates of electrical nonconducting material, an electrical element disposed between said plates and secured thereto, said element having a panel of high electrical resistant material, two metal members in spaced relation on one side of said panel and one metal member on the other side of said panel, pins extending outwardly from said spaced metal members and through the adjacent plate for receiving said spark plug wires and making electrical contact therewith, a plate removably secured to said first plates for retaining said wires on said pins, and two glow lamps secured to said adjacent plate and being connected to said spaced members.

4. An ignition device for an internal combustion engine having a distributor, a plurality of spark plugs and wires connecting said distributor with said plugs, comprising a pair of plates of electrical nonconducting material, an electrical element disposed between said plates, said element having a panel of high electrical resistant material, two metal members in spaced relation on one side of said panel and one metal member on the other side of said panel, pins extending outwardly from said spaced metal members and through the adjacent plate for receiving said spark plug wires and making electrical contact therewith, and a plate removably secured to said first plates for retaining said wires on said pins.

5. An ignition device for an internal combustion engine having a distributor, a plurality of spark plugs and wires connecting said distributor with said plugs, comprising a pair of plates of electrical nonconducting material, an electrical element disposed between said plates, said element having a panel of high electrical resistant material, two metal members in spaced relation on one side of said panel and one metal member on the other side of said panel, pins extending outwardly from said spaced metal members and through the adjacent plate for receiving said spark plug wires and making electrical contact, a plate removably secured to said first plates for retaining said wires on said pins, and a lead connected to said one metal member and extending to the corresponding member of a second unit.

6. An ignition device for an internal combustion engine having a distributor, a plurality of spark plugs and wires connecting said distributor with said plugs, comprising a pair of plates of electrical nonconducting material, an electrical element disposed between said plates and secured thereto, said element having a panel of high electrical resistant material, a plurality of metal plates in spaced relation on one side of said panel and one metal member on the other side of said panel, pins extending outwardly from said spaced metal members and through the adjacent plate for receiving said spark plug wires and making electrical contact therewith, a plate removably secured to said first plates for retaining said wires on said pins, and a lamp adjacent each pm.

7. An ignition device for an internal combustion engine having a distributor, a plurality of spark plugs and wires connecting said distributor with said plugs, comprising a pair of plates of electrical nonconducting material, an electrical element disposed between said plates and secured thereto, said element having a panel of high electrical resistant material, a plurality of metal plates in spaced relation on one side of said panel and one metal member on the other side of said panel, means sealing said element between said plates, pins extending outwardly from said spaced metal members and through the adjacent plate for receiving said spark plug wires and making electrical contact therewith, a plate removably secured to said first plates for retaining said wires on said pins, a contact part on said last mentioned plate adjacent each pin having a thin metal member interposed between said part and the inner surfiace of said last mentioned plate, and a glow lamp secured to the external surface of said last mentioned plate adjacent each part and being connected to said member.

8. An ignition device for an internal combustion engine having a distributor, a plurality of spark plugs and wires connecting said distributor with said plugs, com prising a pair of plates of electrical nonconductiug material, an electrical element disposed between said plates, said element having a panel of high electrical resistant material, three metal plates in spaced relation on one side of said panel and one metal member on the other side of said panel, pins extending outwardly from said spaced metal members and through the adjacent plate for receiving said spark plug Wires and making electrical contact therewith, and a plate removably secured to said first plates for retaining said wires on said pins.

No references cited.

DAVID J. GALVIN, Primary Examiner. C. R. CAMPBELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN IGNITION DEVICE FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING A DISTRIBUTOR, A PLURALITY OF SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES CONNECTING SAID DISTRIBUTOR WITH SAID PLUGS, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF UNITS EACH INCLUDING A PAIR OF PLATES OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, AN ELECTRICAL ELEMENT DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PLATES AND SECURED THERETO, SAID ELEMENT HAVING A PANEL OF HIGH ELECTRICAL RESISTANT MATERIAL, TWO MEMBERS IN SPACED RELATION ON ONE SIDE OF SAID PANEL AND ONE METAL MEMBER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PANEL, MEANS SEALING SAID ELEMENT BETWEEN SAID PLATES, PINS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SPACED METAL MEMBERS AND THROUGH THE ADJACENT PLATE FOR RECEIVING SAID SPARK PLUG WIRES AND MAKING ELECTRICAL CONTACT THEREWITH, A PLATE HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED SLOTS THEREIN REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID FIRST PLATES FOR RETAINING SAID WIRES ON SAID PINS, TWO GLOW LAMPS SECURED TO SAID ADJACENT PLATE AND EXTENDING THEREFROM INTO THE SLOTS OF SAID LAST MENTIONED PLATE AND BEING CONNECTED TO SAID SPACED MEMBERS, AND A LEAD CONNECTED TO SAID ONE METAL MEMBER AND EXTENDING TO THE CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF A SECOND UNIT. 